Running a business

Notice: PSoI = Provide Source of Information

1. List two companies bought by Microsoft - PSoI
2. List three firms acquired by Apple - PSoI
3. List three government-owned companies - PSoI
4. Is it possible to sell a franchise? - PSoI
5. Would you set up a business alongside a part-time job?
6. What are three advantages of establishing your own business?
7. What do you need first and foremost to start a business?
8. What is a start up company?
9. How do you respond to phone calls aiming at launching a company?
10. If you ran your own business, would you be prepared to doing tasks that you dislike?
11. Do you have the necessary qualities to head a department?
12. Running a firm involves taking risks. Are you a risk taker?
13. Would you rather head or work in a team?
14. Can you remember an important deal you made?
15. Apple signs deal to secure sapphire manufacturing in Arizona. What does it mean?
Check the article here:
http://www.macnn.com/articles/13/11/04/half.billion.dollar.agreement.with.gt.advanced.tech
nologies/ and explain in no more than 20 words
Half-billion dollar agreement with GT Advanced Technologies
Apple is investing in GT Advanced Technologies, a company that produces advanced sapphire
material. Following an announcement of the Apple investment by Governor Jan Brewer, details
revealed that the iPhone maker has signed a multi-year, $578 million contract in the state that
will help fund a "next-generation, large-capacity" Advanced Sapphire Furnace intended to lower
the cost to create advanced sapphire-based material.
The factory where the furnace will be built is located in Mesa, Arizona. Apple uses sapphire for
both camera lenses and the Touch ID feature of the iPhone 5s. The plant will create at least 700
manufacturing jobs in the first year of operation and generate significant capital investment in
the state from the Cupertino manufacturer and other associated businesses. The project also
will produce approximately 1,300 construction and other associated jobs for the people of
Arizona, and eventually grow to over 2,000 high-paying, technical jobs.
The terms of the deal require Apple to invest in building the building that will hold the AST
furnace, and GT Advanced Technologies will reimburse the iPhone maker over the course of five
years, beginning in 2015. Apple also gets supply exclusivity on the deal, provided the company
buys an undisclosed level of the factory's capacity.
"Apple is indisputably one of the world's most innovative companies and I'm thrilled to
welcome them to Arizona," said Governor Brewer. "Apple will have an incredibly positive
economic impact for Arizona and its decision to locate here speaks volumes about the friendly,
pro-business climate we have been creating these past four years."
"It is a pleasure to welcome one of the most admired companies in the world to our great
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state," said Sandra Watson, President and CEO of the Arizona Commerce Authority. "Apple's
commitment to manufacturing that will rely on renewable energy further demonstrates its
forward-thinking, progressive nature and Arizona's advanced capabilities in producing and
delivering renewable power. Salt River Project has been instrumental in working with Apple to
create additional advanced renewable energy sources that will power next-generation
manufacturing."
GT needed a partner to help finance the facility because the new technology will produce
"consistently uniform sapphire boules that yield high-quality material for a lower cost of
ownership," meaning that margins for GT will be lower than historical norms. This could make
the company's sapphire a viable alternative to Gorilla Glass, which it currently uses for the face
of the iPhone and iPad line.
While Gorilla Glass is much tougher than normal glass, sapphire is virtually scratch-proof and
can be made thinner and lighter than Gorilla Glass, reports AppleInsider. The main problems
with using sapphire as a replacement is that it was much more expensive and limited in the
quantity that could be produced -- obstacles the new ASF and Apple's deal might be able to
overcome, allowing sapphire to be used on a larger scale than the lens and Touch ID uses Apple
presently employs the technology for.
Upon publication of the announcements, GT Advanced Technologies restated its fiscal 2014
revenue guidance from $600 million to $800 million, saying that its man-made sapphire
business will contribute 80 percent of company's revenue, and that revenues should double by
2016 -- hinting that Apple has more plans for the technology.
Like its own latest facilities, Apple is planning to help GT Advanced Technologies make its
furnace facility run on 100 percent renewable energy, the company said. Governor Brewer said
that the Apple investment in renewable technologies will help to create "significant new solar
and geothermal power sources for the state."

16. Situation: you are a salesman, your product is high-priced. How would you try to win a
deal?
Read this article http://www.voanews.com/content/taiwan-singapore-sign-free-trade-dealchina-relents/1785388.html and explain in no more than 30 words why China blocked
deals with Taiwan in the past
After more than three years of talks, Taiwan and Singapore have finally signed a trade
liberalization deal. The pact was signed in Singapore on Thursday and represents Taiwans most
significant to date. The deal signals that Taiwans powerful foe, China, has relaxed its' stance
forbidding major countries from engaging directly with the island
Taiwan and its fifth largest trade partner, Singapore, hope the deal will provide a lift to two-way
trade that reached $28.2 billion last year. China sees Taiwan as part of its territory rather than a
state free to negotiate with other countries, and in the past Beijing had blocked deals such as
this, except for pacts with Taiwans tiny diplomatic allies.
Scholars say Beijing has recently eased its position on Taiwan trade following its own economic
cooperation pact with Taiwan, made in 2010 as part of a broader effort to get along after six
decades of hostilities.
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George Tsai, a political scientist at Chinese Cultural University, in Taipei, says China can tolerate
deals that avoid implying that Taipei and Beijing are separate countries. He says that means no
signatures by diplomats or agreements that mention the words free trade deal. The pact just
signed with Taiwans fifth largest trading partner is called an economic partnership, or referred
to by its acronym: ASTEP.
It goes back to two issues, as what name and what form, by whom, to sign the agreement,
ASTEP is two rep offices signing. Under this form, I think China can look the other way, said
Tsai.
Beijing, backed by its economic muscle, previously forbid its 170-plus diplomatic allies,
including the worlds biggest countries, from engaging with Taiwan. China has seen Taiwan as
part of its territory since the Chinese civil war of the 1940s. In the past, it has threatened to use
military force to reunite the two, but over the past five years it has sought to impress Taiwans
public with trade and investment tie-ups, part of a push toward eventual reunification.
Taiwan President Ma Ying-jeou is expected to win badly needed public support for the Singapore
deal; his approval ratings currently hover around 20 percent. Taiwans trade with Singapore
comes to five percent of its total with other territories, and the island government estimates
the agreement will add $701 million to its $474 billion economy over the next 15 years.
Kweibo Huang, associate diplomacy professor at National Chengchi University, in Taipei, thinks
the pact will especially help Taiwan catch up with regional economic integration. China, Japan,
South Korea and Southeast Asia lead Taiwan in trade deals with one another as well as with
Western nations. Taiwan signed its first major Asia-Pacific trade agreement in July with New
Zealand.
Huang feels Taiwans domestic economy falls short of ideal, while its participation in
increasingly fast-paced regional economic integration is limited. Huang adds that Taiwan must
speed up the signing of free trade deals to ensure its economic security.
Taiwanese official media say exports to Singapore will grow by $782 million under the trade
agreement, and imports by $719 million. The islands manufacturing sector, the bedrock of its
economy, would grow by $1.18 billion. The pact will also eliminate tariffs on 99 percent of
Taiwans imports from Singapore, a boon to the free-port city state that already keeps tariffs
low.
17. List five possible ways to expand the business - PSoI:
18. List five ideas to grow a small business startup - PSoI:
19. Check the link http://www.wikihow.com/Build-Your-Business-Without-Advertising and list the
ways mentioned.
Do you agree with these ideas?
How to Build Your Business Without Advertising
Do you have a limited advertising budget? In that case, you can build your business through
business networking - no need to advertise - promote your business through word of mouth
advertising (networking).
Steps
1 Join one or more business networking groups.
2 Do business with people who do business with you and let your business partners know that
you would appreciate their business as well.
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3 Become involved in your community - this serves your community well and it really expands
your relationships at the same time.
4 Always be on time and provide excellent services to your customers.
5 Ask your customers if you can use them for a reference.
6 Ask questions about other peoples' business wherever you go. People love to talk about what
they do - be sincere in finding out what they do. You may not be able to use their service, but
might know someone who could. When you give referrals, you get referrals.
7 Hand out your business cards wherever you go.
20. Read this quotation:
Skate to where the puck is going to be, not where it has been.
Wayne Gretsky
What does it have to do with building business?
21.Find an example of a company that has boosted investment over the last 3 yers - PSoI
22. Find an example of spending increase - PSoI
23. Find and example of a product that has boosted sales over the last 6 months - PSoI
24. Has turnover increased in public administration recently? Why? Why not?
25. Find an example of a company presently increasing earnings - PSoI
26. What can companies do to boost exports?
27. Find a synonymous expression of increase trade in this article1:
http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/turkey-south-africa-to-increase-trade-links.aspx?
pageID=238&nID=58523&NewsCatID=344
Turkey South Africa to increase trade links
Turkey-South Africa Business Forum was jointly organized by the Turkey-South Africa Business
Forum, the Foreign Economic Relations Board of Turkey and Turkish-South African Business
Councils. REUTERS photo
There is a lot of opportunity to cooperate and increase trade and investment between South
Africa and Turkey without necessarily going into a free trade agreement, South African
Ambassador to Turkey Vika Mazwi Khumalo said yesterday.
We feel that the free trade agreement will be disadvantageous, particularly for South Africa.
However, we need to work with each other for now to reach a very good connected level in our
textile sector as well as in the automotive sector, Khumalo said at the Turkey-South Africa
Business Forum in Istanbul. The Forum was jointly organized by The Turkey-South Africa
Business Forum, the Foreign Economic Relations Board of Turkey (DEIK) and Turkish-South
African Business Councils.
Meanwhile, South African Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry Elizabeth Thabethe explained
that the FTA had not yet been completely decided upon, while officials commented on
accelerating free trade-related talks after 2016. But we do not sit and wait. We are trying to
increase cooperation between companies by these business forums, she added.

1 To widen trade volume for q's 29

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$1.5 bln of bilateral trade

The Chairman of the Turkish-South African Business Council, Tamer Takn, called on companies
from both countries to meet and gain knowledge from one another to widen trade volume
between the two countries. Trade volume is too low. We are trying to increase this volume by
forums and visits, he said. The trade volume between the two countries is at around $1.5
billion.
28. Find an example of production increase - PSoI
29. List two methods to increase output - PSoI
30.What factors would you consider in order to expand sales?
31.List 3 ways to maximize productivity without increasing stress levels - PSoI
32.How could you boost your efficiency?
33.How many hours a day would you be willing to work in order to maximize your income?
34.Which is better: maximizing revenues or income?
35. If you boost your profit, which increases: revenues or income?2
36. In order to maximize profitability, what activities would you invest your money in?
Provide 2 examples and explain your choice.
37. Read
http://www.linkedin.com/today/post/article/20130405114104-32175171-how-to-achievegrowth-in-2013
and summarize it in not more than 15 words
How to achieve growth?
In a previous blog I spoke about the vital need for growth in any company, no matter how big
or small, if it is going to survive and prosper.
In order to protect and nurture that growth, business leaders need to ensure that they have a
robust and effective strategy in place.
One of the reasons for setting up my growth advisory firm, Hamilton Bradshaw was to help
businesses with great potential to build and grow.
There are plenty of options when it comes to growth and as a businessman I wanted to provide
a service that could help small and medium sized enterprises with effective solutions tailored to
their specific needs.
The key to any successful growth strategy is to understand the unique nature of the business
proposition and the market it serves, that should always be the starting point.
At a recent event I was asked to speak to the owners of SMEs from a wide variety of sectors on
how to stimulate and encourage business growth in a what is a difficult market place. There
were a wide range of businesses at the event from IT agencies and engineering companies to
opticians and fashion designers but the message is always the same.
When it comes to growth there are obvious methods such as introducing new products or
looking for new market places. A good example of this is the growing influence of the internet
and the new opportunities it offers to small businesses.

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But heading in a new direction is not always the best way forward. Looking inwards can often
be more important when it comes to nurturing and building on success.
Restructuring a business and creating a leaner philosophy can lead to big rewards and greater
long term success. Cutting back on costs can be a difficult process but in the longer term a
successful firm will lead to greater staff engagement and involvement.
There are other growth strategies which can be considered including taking the acquisition
route or even setting up franchise operations.
It doesn't matter which route you decide to take, the important thing is to have a robust and
workable strategy in place and to review it at regular intervals.
Whichever method you choose, a business with a smart growth strategy can achieve real longterm success. I would urge any business leader to take a close look at their business strategy
before they get left behind by their competition.
38. Read
http://www.legalbusiness.co.uk/index.php/lb-blog-view/771-hill-dickinson-to-review-itsbusiness-to-maintain-profitability
Why is the company making plans to maintain profitability?
Hill Dickinson to review its business to maintain profitability

Unusually for a firm that has averaged 10% growth over the last five years and posted a 22%
leap in profit per lawyer in 2011/12, national firm Hill Dickinson has announced a review of its
UK business today (30 April), which could lead to redundancies.
The firm, which employs more than 1,400 people including 190 partners, confirmed it would be
reviewing its range of services and geographical reach, which it anticipates will lead to the
restructuring of a number of unspecified teams.

39. Can green economy sustain growth?

40. What costs would you cut to increase income?
41. Is price reduction always advisable?
42. What factors are likely to bring down costs?
43. Lower prices or higher income?
44. What does the expression slash costs mean: slight reduction or smash down?
45.Report on announced job cuts - PSoI
46. What are the most recent spending cuts imposed by your country's government?
47. Italian households have been forced to make cutbacks to their spending. How has this
trend affected your spending habits?

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